 |
|
|
 |
| |
 |
|
Opponents of Ky.'s case against online casino operators say state ... - CanadianBusiness.com |
 |
|
The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is attempting to block Kentuckians' access to online casinos, including some of the most popular in the world. State officials claim state law gives them authority to take "illegal gambling devices," in this case domain names. Kentucky officials have asked Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate to forfeit control of 141 gambling Web sites to the state. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday. During his campaign for governor last year, Beshear campaigned on a central theme supporting legalized casino gambling as a way to raise state revenue. Beshear tried and failed to get the General Assembly to put a proposed constitutional amendment before voters that would legalize casino gambling. Beshear, in announcing the lawsuit last month, said that blocking Internet gambling sites in Kentucky would protect the state's "signature industry" and called such sites "leeches on our communities." "Unlike casinos that operate on land or on riverboats in the United States, these operations pay no tax revenues, provide no jobs and yield no tourism benefits," Beshear said at the time. Some groups opposed to the state's actions met Monday before the hearing. Derek Hunter, a spokesman for the Media Freedom Project, which is related to Americans for Tax Reform, called the state's move a "dangerous step" that raises constitutional issues about due process. Hunter said the government should not regulate Internet commerce. Joe Brennan Jr., chairman of the Internet Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, claimed Kentucky's move was intended to thwart competition from other gambling interests currently in the state. Kentucky already allows gambling on horse racing and bingo and has a state lottery. |
|
 |
| |
|
|
